Why is my dogs tail not curly anymore?

OverviewA tail between the legs doesn’t always mean a dog has hurt feelings. If you notice that your dog’s tail is unusually limp or flaccid, he or she might have a condition known as limber tail. Limber tail – also known as “cold water tail” or “broken wag”— is a condition thought to be caused by overexertion, exposure to cold weather, swimming in cold water, or excessive exercise without proper physical conditioning. Other possible causes include spending too much time in a crate (especially one that is too small) and climate changes.

While any dog can be affected by limber tail, there are some breeds that are more susceptible than others (particularly sporting or hunting dogs):

SymptomsCommon symptoms of limber tail are obvious. Your dog’s tail will be limp, and he or she will not wag it as usual. Sometimes the tail will extend a few inches from your dog’s body and then drop flaccidly. In addition, limber tail is usually accompanied by pain and swelling, especially at the base of the tail.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Limber tail can usually be diagnosed by a simple physical examination. Your veterinarian may also order x-rays to rule out fractures or other injuries.

Treatment for limber tail is very straightforward, and generally consists of the following:

In most cases, a dog’s tail will go back to normal within a relatively short amount of time. It is important to consult your veterinarian with any concerns as you monitor your dog’s recovery.

Prevention
Because too much physical activity can induce limber tail, it is important to gradually introduce your dog to exercise rather than pushing your dog too hard after prolonged periods of relatively low activity. It is also important to make sure that your dog’s crate is the right size and that he or she is not confined for too long. To learn more about crates and your dog, be sure to read our article on crate training.

If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian – they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.

Is your dog losing hair on their tail? You might be curious if it is just falling out, a result of your dog chewing hair off their tail, or another larger health concern. Your dog's itchiness and red skin could be caused by an allergy, fleas, hormones, some kind of behavioral disorder, or in rare cases, a food allergy.

While the exact cause of a dog losing tail hair cannot be determined without the assistance of your veterinarian, there are clues to notice at home beforehand that can be valuable information for your vet.

Is Your Dog Chewing Hair Off Their Tail?

The most important thing to notice is whether your dog is chewing on their tail or not. A dog chewing hair off their tail will have rough, frizzy, and broken hair on the tail. The hair may also be wet with saliva. In addition, the skin on the tail will likely be red, inflamed and could have open sores from aggressive chewing.

If your dog is chewing, then it could be a flea allergy, especially during warmer months when fleas are more active. If your dog is allergic to fleas, just one bite can cause them to go crazy and chew their tail severely enough to create open sores. Flea allergy dermatitis is the number one cause of excessive tail chewing in dogs and may require flea treatment, antibiotics and/or steroids to stop the itching.

Other allergies can also result in tail chewing. A dog losing hair on their tail may be the result of a condition called atopy (environmental allergies) or food allergies. Dogs with these types of allergies may benefit from a therapeutic food and your veterinarian can provide this specific nutritional recommendation when needed.

Another reason a dog may be chewing their tail is because of anal gland issues. If you notice your dog licking and chewing their anus in conjunction with scooting, or if the anus looks swollen, then anal glands may be the problem. Treatment for anal gland issues could include anal gland expression, antibiotics, pain medication and possibly surgery if the anal gland is infected or abscessed. If your dog has repeated anal gland issues, your veterinarian may also recommend a therapeutic food.

Another (gross) cause of tail chewing could be intestinal worms. Tapeworms coming out of the anus can be irritating and cause your dog to lick and chew the anal area. The most common symptom of tapeworms is seeing rice-grain-like organisms adhered to your dog's bum. Tapeworms require fleas for their life cycle, and dogs who have fleas can have tapeworms as well — double gross! If you or your vet suspect intestinal parasites, then deworming medication is indicated, and if tapeworms are suspected, flea control is in order, as well.

In some cases, dogs can chew the hair off their tails in response to pain. Conditions such as arthritis in the tail, a broken tail, a foreign body like a foxtail stuck in the tail's skin, or lower back pain can all result in excessive tail grooming. Emotional distress from anxiety or fear and behavioral disorders, such as compulsive tail-chasing, can also cause excessive tail chewing. Each of these conditions requires different treatment, so talk with your vet. If your dog is chewing their tail due to behavioral reasons, your vet may recommend a certified dog behaviorist to discuss how to help your dog.

Is Your Dog's Tail Hair Falling Out?

If your dog isn't actively chewing and the tail is still going bald, then it may be time to look into other potential underlying causes. In dogs who are losing hair on the tail without chewing, any hair present on the tail appears smooth and not broken, and the skin is smooth, not red or inflamed.

Hormonal problems, such as hypothyroidism or Cushing's disease, can cause hair loss on the tail and sides of the abdomen. Dogs with an underactive thyroid often have weight issues and are lethargic. In addition to other clinical signs, dogs with Cushing's disease can have skin infections and hair loss.

If your vet suspects a hormonal problem, then your dog needs to be tested for hormonal imbalances. Your vet will likely recommend blood and urine testing and possibly an ultrasound. If your dog has a hormonal imbalance, then there are medications available to help. Hypothyroidism is typically treated with a thyroid supplement, and Cushing's can be treated with medication or surgery.

If your dog is chewing the hair off the tail or losing hair due to hormonal issues, then hair regrowth can be expected once they stop chewing the tail or the hormonal condition is controlled. Remember: according to the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Tennessee, hair grows in cycles, so regrowth will depend on where your dog is in the hair cycle. Therefore, patience is key!

Dr. Sarah Wooten

Dr. Sarah Wooten is a small animal veterinarian with 16 years experience in private practice. She is a 2002 graduate of UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and a certified veterinary journalist.

The Pug breed is unique in many ways and one of those is his tail. It is very distinct and its shape and curling is rarely seen in other breeds. This breed has what is known as a 'corkscrew' or 'screw' tail.

In this section, we are going to go over details about a Pug dog's tail, including:

At what age a Pug puppy starts wagging his tail

Different types of Pug dog tails

What it means if the tail uncurls

Limp tail- a particular type of injury

We received an email from an owner who was worried about her puppy:

Question: "Do Pugs wag their tail? My Pug gets only a little movement. It is down a lot, so I am wondering if they can or do wag their tail?"

Answer: You bring up a very good question, regarding the Pug tail. First of all, we do not know how old your Pug puppy is, however most dogs do not begin wagging their tail until they are about 7 weeks old.

If your Pug dog is still a puppy, under 7 weeks old, your dog should begin wagging the tail soon and there is nothing to worry about.

If your dog is much older than 7 weeks, we do suggest having your dog looked at. Tail wagging is a very important means of communication for a dog; though this breed is limited to an extent by how the tail is set high and the cartilage is curved.

The tail serves other purposes as well, such as providing a dog with balance and helping dogs to swim. A Pug uses his tail to express emotions and feelings even if it does not swing back and forth with wide arching oscillation that is seen with dogs that have long, loose tails.

Tommy (meets the breed standard of a single curled tail)

Photo courtesy of owner: Srinivas from Dubai, UAE

Therefore, if there is a health problem that is preventing your Pug from moving his tail, it is important to find out what is wrong and see if it can be corrected. (more ahead)

Breed standards call out for a curled tail. While the amount of curling will vary from dog to dog and can improve as a Pug matures, this is a defining physical feature.

The breed standards regarding the Pug's tail from all major organizations in the world are as follows:

AKC (American Kennel Club) and CKC (Canadian Kennel Club): The tail is curled as tightly as possible over the hip. The double curl is perfection.

KC (The Kennel Club of the UK), FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale - Largest breed registry in the world with 80+ member countries) and ANKC (Australian National Kennel Council): High-set, tightly curled over hip. Double curl highly desirable.

As you can see, both descriptions are very similar. In essence, the tail should curl tightly and if the tail has a double curl, this is judged as more favorable in the show ring. Most Pugs have a tail that not only curls, but lies over the back. This is an element of the breed standard and is the desired look. With this said, there are some Pugs that have a loose tail. We'll dive into this ahead.

Since the tail is a bone and cartilage appendage of the spine, the physical trait of it curling is due to a deviation in the spine in which the vertebrae is wedged-shaped, causing the tail to curl when held naturally.

This trait has been bred into the breed for thousands of years and is an extension of the spine. Therefore, just about all Pugs do have a curly tail. There are some Pugs that have a loose tail. This may be the case for one of several reasons:

1) All Pugs may uncurl the tail at one time or another; some do this much more often and for young puppies it may happen a lot. The tail may tighten up during the maturity and growth stage.

2) There may be injury to the tail (more ahead)

3) In some cases, it may be a matter of poor breeding practices. Some breeders focus very much on the tail, trying to achieve the very desirable 'double curl'; this makes for a strong, curled tail even if the double spiral is not achieved. If two Pugs with weak, looser tails are paired this can produce a litter in which those puppies have little curling. The dog is still able to be registered and so forth yet since it is not the preferred look of the breed, this is considered a major fault in the show ring.

This young adolescent Pug puppy has a loose tail that is flipped over his back. This is a sign of a weak tail set but is not uncommon with pet (non-show) Pugs. As this pup matures, the tail may tighten up and have a curl. A double curled tail is not possible with this Pug; that sort of trait would be seen at a young age.

A nice curled tail. This is the type of tail you will most often see with a Pug dog. It will naturally lift over the back and have one curl in which the tail swirls over itself in one solidly held loop.

Photo of Ruby, courtesy of owner Alf Dixon of Australia

This Pug just officially has a nice, double curled tail. As you can see it has one large curl and then the end of the tail swirls over once more and it is held tightly. Some double tails make two complete circles of the same length.

This swirly feature is not all that common and is considered to be highly desirable in all major kennel organization show rings. No worries if your Pug does not have a double curl, it's not overly prevalent. How many Pugs have two double curls? Approximately 25% of all registered purebreds. Two complete loops is the exception, not the norm.

Sometimes a Pug's tail will become uncurled. This happens most often with puppies but it can happen with older Pugs as well.

It can happen when a puppy sleeps and the body is very relaxed or when a Pug knows that he did something wrong (had an accident, chewed up your shoes) and is reacting to the shame he feels.

With some, the tail will curl and uncurl all throughout the day.

This is not uncommon and for most Pugs, the tail will tighten up and stay curled as a puppy matures into an adult.

If a Pug with a normally curled tail suddenly has a much looser tail this may be a sign that the dog is ill.

Other signs may be that the dog is extra tired, wanting to retreat, a sudden decrease in appetite, etc. This should be brought to the attention of the veterinarian.

This may also be a matter of a condition called "limp tail", which means that the bone at the base has been injured in some way, causing it to hang and not able to be moved by the dog or the dog resists moving it as doing so causing pain.

This is usually diagnosed by a veterinarian by taking x-rays.

Anti-inflammatory medications, pain medication and bed rest often result in normal use after a while.

While injury to the tail should be investigated, if a Pug holds his tail at a weird angle, the most common reason would be enlarged anal glands that need to be expressed.

This is best done by a vet or groomer, especially if the glands have been engorged for a long time. This can be exceedingly uncomfortable for a dog; the swelling and discomfort can cause a Pug's tail to drop or to be held in an odd way.